(no subject)

[shadowkat]

Snagged a poem from ann1962 who got it from breathpoetry (can't figure out the html link for it). Have you ever stumbled upon a quote or poem that just fits how you feel about yourself and what you are struggling with perfectly? Well that's it.

Also fits a little movie I watched today. The second of my netflix's rentals. Called The Station Agent Starring Patricia Clarkson and Peter Dinklater. It's about a tiny man (4ft 10 inches) who inherits his friends old train station depot in NewFoundland, NJ and moves there. Quiet story about friendship, loniliness and connection. The man is a loner, but he finds people, people reach out to him even though he tries to push them away and he starts to care about them. Not very long, just 1 hr and 29 minutes. Also a bit of a comedy, I laughed in places. But quiet. Reading the poem below made me think of it. Because in the movie each of the characters has a problem, is hurt in some small or large way, and somehow they find peace with each other - even though their hurts have zip to do with one another or one another's experience. I don't want to say much more about it for fear of spoiling you. But if you are ever in the mood for a quiet peaceful tale about friendship, heartily recommend.

I Am Not I
by Juan Ramon Jimenez
(translated by Robert Bly)

I am not I.

I am this one

walking beside me whom I do not see,
whom at times I manage to visit,
and whom at other times I forget;
who remains calm and silent while I talk,
and forgives, gently, when I hate,
who walks where I am not,
who will remain standing when I die.

Quiet muggy day. Slept in. Watched flick. Read responses to last post. Need to buy a few things. Debating waiting until tomorrow to sign up for the course I want to take, so can print off the info and reciept. Can't at home at the moment. Lap isn't hooked up to printer as of yet. Looking forward to labor day weekend. Also looking forward to September. I enjoy the fall, it always brings new things.

Comments

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

I really like this poem.

Here's the original version:

YO NO SOY YO

Soy este
que va a mi lado sin yo verlo;
que, a veces, voy a ver,
y que, a veces, olvido.
El que calla, sereno, cuando hablo,
el que perdona, dulce, cuando odio,
el que pasea por donde no estoy,
el que quedará en pié cuando yo muera.

Chani

[ann1962]

I wonder how much difference there is in the tone and the nuance in the translation from the original. Thanks for posting this.